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PT054
Capelinhos
Location Portugal, Azores
Central coordinates 28o 47.00' West  38o 36.00' North
IBA criteria A4i, A4ii, B1i, B1ii, B2, B3, C2
Area 215 ha
Altitude 0 - 300m
Year of IBA assessment 2002

Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves



Ornithological information Important for breeding seabirds, especially the Cory's Shearwater and the Roseate Tern.

Site description This IBA is constituted by two distinct zones: the first along the western coast, from Porto dos Capelinhos to the Porto da Fajã; the second includes the volcano of Capelinhos, active in 1957-58, and the adjacent coastline.constituída por um cone vulcânico costeiro, uma praia de areia e falésias adjacentes.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea breeding  2001  5,713 breeding pairs  medium  A4ii, B1ii, B2, C2  Least Concern 
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii breeding  2000  138 breeding pairs  good  A4i, B1i, B2, C2  Least Concern 
Island Canary Serinus canaria resident  1996  common [units unknown]  -  B3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Caldeira e Capelinhos - Ilha do Faial - PTFAI0004 Habitats Directive 2,023 protected area overlaps with site 172  
Vulcão dos Capelinhos Nature Reserve 100 unknown 0  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Rocky areas Scree & boulders  -
Shrubland Scrub  -
Coastline Sea cliffs and rocky shores  -
Introduced/exotic vegetation   -

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
nature conservation and research -
tourism/recreation -
not utilised -

Management considerations Feral terrestrial mammals (dogs, cats, rats and weasels) affect most of the seabirds, especially those who nest in holes and burrows. In 1998 the predation by feral cats in the colonies of the Capelinhos was so evident that only 2 pairs of Roseate Terns attempted to nest there the year after. Capture of Cory's Shearwaters and other seabirds exist in small scale. Invasive plant species like the cane reduces the available nesting habitat for seabirds. Seabird colonies are disturbed by illegal recreation activities. The absence of the establishment of the SPA by the regional law constitutes a weakness in its surveillance and legal protection. There is a management plan for the SPA Capelinhos.

Protection status National Protected Area Vulcão dos Capelinhos/Natural Forestal Reserve Capelinhos.International Espetial Protected Area Caldeira e Capelinhos; SCI Caldeira e Capelinhos

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Capelinhos. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife